THE CAUCUS; Now It's April Madness

By LARRY ROHTER

Published: April 3, 2008

It became clear this week in Pennsylvania that Senator Barack Obama is not much of a bowler (cable television has run scenes of his gutter balls all week). But basketball -- ah, that's another matter, or so says Mr. Obama. His latest campaign gimmick is meant to show off those hoops skills in a match-off with teenage supporters, while also engaging Indiana voters, whose primary is May 6.

Here's the plan: High school students who will turn 18 before the November election are being urged to register 20 others to vote. One of the student organizers will then be chosen and allowed to pick two friends to play on their home court against Mr. Obama when he makes a swing through Indiana, a hotbed of hoops, later this month.

The challenge, called ''3 on 3 Basketball Challenge for Change,'' was announced Friday by Calbert Cheaney, an Obama supporter and Evansville native who also happens to be the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer, a three-time All-American and a former N.C.A.A. player of the year. As of Tuesday, nearly 50 Indiana high schools had already qualified for the challenge, according to Kevin Griffis, communications director for the Obama campaign in Indiana.

''We're thinking standard rules, with the first to 11'' points winning the competition, Mr. Griffis said. Mr. Obama's teammates will be an Indiana college student who has registered 30 young voters and a player to be named later.

The news release announcing the challenge was accompanied by a YouTube video showing Mr. Obama walking into a gym in South Carolina wearing street clothes and calmly sinking a three-point shot.